Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Walters. Kiwior, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Nelson, Saka
—
Arsenal responded to Man City’s 4-1 win over Liverpool, with a 4-1 win over their own against Leeds at the Emirates this afternoon.
Mikel Arteta handed a start to Gabriel Jesus up front, while Bukayo Saka – due to a bout of illness which meant he didn’t train on Friday – was on the bench, the first time this season he has failed to start in the Premier League.
Just like the Bournemouth game, the visitors had a chance in the opening 10 seconds, this time Aaron Ramsdale made a good save, before we took it up the other end where Gabriel Martinelli had an effort blocked inside the box.
It was a frenetic opening, but things began to settle down with the Gunners dominating possession. Granit Xhaka’s delivery provided a good chance for Jesus, but the Brazilian headed over the bar from close range. He should have done better from that position.
Ramsdale had to save from Summerville before the offside flag went up, and had to do so again from the same player after Leeds worked a good opening inside our penalty area. At the other end we were struggling to find a way to trouble the opposition keeper, and Ramsdale once more kept the scores level saving from Harrison who had found space in the outside left position.
But in the 33rd minute we won a penalty. Jesus twisted inside the box, Ayling slid in and caught him on the knee. With Saka on the bench, the responsibility fell to the Brazilian who fired the ball down the middle as Meslier went the other way. It was his first goal since the North London derby on October 1st. 1-0.
A good defensive intervention from Trossard sparked a break which saw shots from Jesus and Martinelli blocked. Another break saw Jesus play a good pass, the keeper came out well, cleared it, it fell for Martinelli who tried to beat him first time from distance, but Ayling cleared it behind for a corner.
A couple of heavy challenges left Odegaard and Martinelli requiring treatment, but we took the 1-0 lead into the break.
That lead was doubled early in the second period. Martinelli got beyond Ayling inside their box, fizzed a pass right to the back post where Ben White came in to finish off the underside of the bar. 2-0.
And it got better in the 55th minute as we scored again. Superb work from Trossard who initially took a pass from Jesus. He twisted inside a couple of defenders, worked space for a cut-back and there was Jesus running in to finish first time from close range. 3-0.
It prompted Mikel Arteta into a couple of changes, bringing on Saka and Jorginho for Jesus and Partey on the hour mark. Ramsdale made another good save, this time from Aaronson, before Kristensen took advantage of some sloppiness but shot over.
Arsenal were in control but in the 76th minute Leeds got one back, a Kristensen shot deflecting off Zinchenko and beyond Ramsdale. 3-1.
We should have had another penalty when Roca whacked Trossard in the back, completely off the ball and in their area, but the ref didn’t see it and VAR didn’t intervene. However, the fourth goal came two minutes later. Odegaard played a brilliant ball into the box, Xhaka made a run from deep and headed perfectly beyond the keeper. 4-1.
A triple change saw Vieira, Smith Rowe and Tierney replace Odegaard, Xhaka and Zinchenko, and the game played out to its inevitable conclusion.
The win extended the lead at the top to 8 points again after City had closed the gap.
9 games to go. Next up, Liverpool.
Vamos! 9 matches to go. Be still, my poor heart!
Benny Blanco MOTM
Martinelli imo.. but it’s close. Both superb today.
Benny edges out because of that hilarious last minute shithousery
Somebody please tell me what he did
Leeds gk complained about white being too close. White laughed at him and when the corner was played, white fouled the keeper
you had to be there
Then he back heeled it into goal
I’ll go for Ramsgate, the saves he made when the game was nil nil were vital.
Imagine going one nil down and knowing City just walloped Liverpool. The pressure on the team would have been unbelievable.
Close, but Trossard for me.
The commentator kept saying we weren’t at our best but I loved that performance….
Jesus GOALS…Holding SOLID ✅✅
Lovely stuff
Fantastic win! We weren’t spectacular for most of the game, but we did enough to win convincingly.
Have to feel sorry for Ramsdale though. Man just wants a clean sheet
It’s always a bit nervy coming back from an international break, so it’s great to see us keep the momentum going. Needed 3 points today, and the team definitely delivered. Well done lads!
Took our foot off the gas when we were 3-0. Keeps costing us.
But it didn’t cost us at all. Three points. NEXT
oh no just the clean sheet
GD
it says a lot about Ben White’s professionalism that despite the scheduling conflict between this game and his one man show comedy routine he still managed to fulfil both obligations
He is so funny. And brilliant. I loved his goal. Martinelli played an unbelievable pass and Benjamin appeared out of nowhere to crash the ball home. Almost like he teleported or something. Shame Southgate can’t see his quality. Whos arguing with the investment now?
What makes Southgates attitude towards Benny Blanco even more hilarious is the fact his seemingly behind Trent “What’s defending?” Alexander-Arnold in the England pecking order
Alexander-Arnold did nothing to change that perception today. He seemed completely unaware that there were any Man City attackers on the pitch. Terrible, lazy, defending. Let’s hope he does the same for Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
don’t forget his duties as Sexiest Fullback Alive. Lad is a proper renaissance man
I thought bar 2 dodgy passes and being outpaced once or twice, holding was excellent today. Won everything in the air, gave Leeds nothing and advanced the ball nicely. Just lovely. Have some of that ffp cheats.
Yea, that was good from Holding, but sterner tests are coming.
Are they? Did you see how shit Liverpool were today?
Liverpool will play much better and harder against us at Anfield than they did today.
Jesus is back
Hallelujah
And we will be playing Liverpool on Easter Sunday!
Odegaards pass for the last was amazing.
We needed it after Liverpool’s poor performance this morning. I hope they ae that bad against us.
9 more finals to go.
Saka gets an assist to an assist. He attracted four defenders to make space for his teammate.
Picking up from where we leftoff.
most pleased with seeing Jesus score from open play.
I hate Liverpool for being crap today and no doubt vaguely decent against us!!! Pointless team!!!
They have been pretty good, sometimes very good, at home and awful away all year. So, not so easy for us.
Benjamin Fuckin Blanco !!!! That is all !!!
a much needed 3 points, but had to toil hard for that. White & Trossard the standout performers today. Arteta will do well to rotate the players a bit more. Especially when we are 3-0 up and the players are knackered after interlull.
Rotating isn’t easy. I am with Arteta. I remember Manutd Away, we were building Momentum and one change rendered us flat, Brighton too was a very nervy ending after some subs. There are some other games I can mention. The league is so strong that a wrong change can put you under immense pressure
I love the goal celebrations. I’m surprised Ben White got out of his unscathed. Genuine joy with this group.
He could do with a concussion test after all that head slapping.
Good win. Delighted with the three points. Wanted a clean sheet badly but it’s ok. One final down, up next Liverpool…
Jesus, saka, martinelli and trossard who starts and who comes on from the bench? Whoever drops, we will definitely need him in the game. Maybe in the second half. I just love this team….COYG
Big game calls for big players.
I would start Jesus and then maybe bring on Trossard to run at a tired defence.
Saka and Martinelli pick themselves.
I think Liverpool at Anfield, against us, will play really hard. Jesus not yet 100%. I’d probably start Martinelli/Trossard/Saka with Jesus on 2nd half to put the shits up them when they’re tiring..? Either way great to have such options…We’ve got Super Mik Arteta📢🎵
So great to have Jesus back to what looks like 100%. He reminded everyone of what a difference he makes in the squad. What was great about today’s match was being able to sit Saka to start (he deserves a rest) and having no drop off at all with Trossard in there. What a luxury to have for the run in with that extra attacking player that can play anywhere across the front three and be as effective as the players that normally play in those spots.
What a buy Trossard was.
Delighted for him and us that he’s back, though not yet @ 100%. He looked really tired in the 2nd half and we saw him a couple of time incapable of accelerateing as he used to do last year. Which is ok, he was out 4 months.
Great to have him back and getting amongst the goals will give him confidence for Anfield.
It’s so vital that we’ve got him back now because we’ve got some massive away matches (City, Newcastle and even West Ham) where his experience, link up play – and goals – can make all the difference in tight nervy games.
The boys should go to Anfield without any fear. They can nick the three points. And if they do, dear God, that would be one giant step towards the title.
Meanwhile, Holding held his own. Sterner tests are coming, but back to back 90 minutes should give him confidence for the battles ahead if Saliba stays out. Two goals for Jesus was great.
Liverpool were truly awful in the second half against City.
Never mind the recent 7-0 against an equally crap United, they aren’t the team they once were with Sadio Mane linking up with Salah.
They gave Grealish so much time and space today it was ridiculous.
Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli will be licking their lips.
Nicking isn’t our style these days. We can go to Anfield and dominate.
9 games to go and 5 points clear, assuming scum win their game in hand!!! Gotta beat liverdross!!!
Gradually ticking the teams behind us off. Chelsea can no longer mathematically catch us, even with 2 games in hand!
Not long until St Totteringham’s Day.
What a difference a year makes….
Job done. 9 games to go. 23 more points needed from 27. Less if we get anything from Man City.
A really important three points today and great to see Jesus finding his shooting boots just in time for Anfield.
Speaking of the Scousers, I couldn’t believe just how bad they were in that second half against City. If they can allow Jack Grealish that amount of time and space in midfield, then our boys have nothing to fear Sunday week; Grealish is no Saka, or Martinelli.
Fingers crossed for Big Willy and hopefully his back eases enough for him to make the bench at least.
Sorry Pep. You’re eight behind us again.
COYG
As mentioned above–Liverpool have been awful away (12 points!), but are still very good at Anfield (30 points).
Starting to look like we dodged a bullet by NOT getting Mudryk. Trossard is 10 times the player he is, which is ironic because he cost 10% of what Mudryk did. Nice symmetry, that.
I’m sensing we might see more symmetry in that Chelsea’s future will be symmetric to their pre-2000’s past. A middling club temporarily propped up by some of the worst rich people on the planet who’ve used it as a pet, something to show off to their fellow cartoon villains.